Feeding molten glass



Sept. l5, 1925. 1,553,819

- G. E. HOWARD FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS Filed April 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet lSept. l5, 1925. n ,553,8l,9

, G. E. HOWARD` FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS Filed April 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR www@ Petented sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED i STATES GEORGE EQ HOWARD, OF BUTLER, IENl\l'SY1".V'ANIA,`ASSIGNOR' TO KARTEORtD-Elllll'.REv

PATENT OFFICE.l

COMPANY,..OF H ARTF ORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAWAREirrznnrlwcfMOLTENy GLASS.

` Application led April 4, 1923. Serial No. 629,817.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

'Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HOWARD, a

l citizen of the United States, and resident of Butler, in the county ofBut-ler and State ofy Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and usefulImprovement in Feeding Molten Glass; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a fulh'fclear, and exact description wherein moltenglass is caused to issue from a discharge outlet and is formed into asuccession of freely-hangingl gobs or mold charges, which areindividually severed and then dropped `into molds.

One of the objects of my invention is to control the temperatureof themold charges so as to'cause each mold charge torbe uniform Ain"temperature, or at leastsymmetrical in temperature, at the time whenitis delivered into the mold. i

Another object of my invention is to provide improved yapparatus forcarrying out the method of glass feeding herein disclosed. 4

In my application f r Letters Patent filed February .27, 1919, 4,SerialNo. 279,541, of which the present application is a continuation,'I havedisclosed a glass feeding system including'a tank furnace `or othersource of molten glass, an extension or forehearth arranged to. receivemolten glass from the tank furnace, a gate for controlling the flow ofglass from thetank vfurnace to the forehearth, a .discharge opening inthe bottom ofthe forehearth, and' a plunger which reciprocatesvertically above the dis- `charge opening and sha-pes theissuing glassinto a succession of mold charges.

The presentapplication is concerned with the portion of this systemwhich delivers the application for thus delivering the glass to thedischarge outlet in a plurality of streams consists of a baille, island,or dividing block interposed in the path of the stream of glass whichflows through the the 'glass into two similar streams which unite againat the outlet. This construct-ion is also Shown in the drawing.accompanying the present application, and is elnployed as the basis ofthe description which follows. It will be understood, however, thatother specific means may be employed, within the scope of my invention,for bringing the glass to the discharge outlet in a plurality ofstreams.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview taken centrally through a glass feeder embodying my invention; Fig.2 is a horizontal view of 'the sameapparatus, with parts in section onthe line QNQ, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview showing a modified construction.

When molten glass is caused to Aflow in a container such as theforehearth of a tank furnace, and is then vdelivered through a dischargeopening, the issuing glass has a 'tendency to stratlication ornon-uniformity in temperature, which is'due tothe fact that some of the`glass flows into the discharge outlet directly from the middle of thehot vbody of glass flowing from the furnace or other sourceofglasssupply, while other parts of the glass flow into the dischargeoutlet Ipartly from the more outlying Vmass of glass which has alreadyaccumulated in the front end of the feeding receptacle, or which isflowing nearer the side walls of the receptacle and into the 'lateraland back Sides of theV outlet or well, all `of which outlying. glass hashad timeto cool more or vless by radiation of heat through the Walls ofthe recptacle. This is especially so when a plunger or other implementis used .in the well or outlet. The plunger, by intercepting the hotgases and the heat radiated from the furnace or forehearth, causes whatmayaptly be called a cold shadow on its front side farthest @Way fromthe furnace.

forehearth, this baille operatingV to divide appearance.

In such cases, the glass flowing around and behind vthe plunger andlinto its cold shadow side become progressively more chilled than theglass flowing more directly into the well on the furnace side ofy 'Mypresent invention avoids these difliculties by bringing the fresh hotglass from the furnace'to the discharge outlet in two or more steams ofsubstantially equal temperature, which approach the outlet fromdifferent directions and are combined at the outlet. If two such streamsare employed,

` the mold charges formed by the combination of such streams will be ofequal temperature on opposite sides and will thus be symmetricalintemperature, even though their temperature maynot be perfectlyuniform. When a plunger is used, these different streams also tend to rkeep the' plunger equally heated on its opposite sides, therebyextending the 'heating effect substantially around the plunger, and-thus eliminating,

orat least minimizing, the cold 4shadow.

effect.

The accompanying drawing shows the front portion of a glass feederconstructed substantially as shown in my prior applica# tion for LettersPatent, Serial No. 279,541. The back gate or cutoff valve shown in my`prior application has been omitted, since it forms no part of mypresent invention and may or may not be employed in connection with thisinvention, A stream of glass, indicated. at 2, Figul, flows in a channelformed by refractory bottom members and side walls 4, passes under a.partition 5k which may be provided for separating the. discharge end ofthe feeder from the hot furnace chamber, and then enters a dischargechamber 6.

A baflie, 7 of refractory material is interposed in the glass channelwithin the cham-` ber 6 and deects the glass into two chann els 8 and 9,which extend forward separately alon -th'e diverging walls 10 of thebaille 7,*an then continue in parallel paths formed'between the sidewalls 11 of the bafn fle 7 and the adjacent walls 12 of the chamber 6.Finally, the two streams of' glass enter a cu or well 13 from oppositesides,

. as shown y the arrows on Fig.'2. Beyond the cup 13, andfadjacent tothe frontV wall 14 of the forehearth, is a refractory baille 15 whichslopes downward to a point adjacent to the cup 13 so as to confine theglass to the space immediately above the cup 18. This prevents theaccumulation of glass in the front end of the forehearth beyond thedischarge outlet which would tend to chill and devitrify the glass andwould produce streaks in the delivered glass.

A plunger 16, which may be constructed and operated in the manner shown1n my prior application, Serial No. 279,541, is arranged to reciprocatevertically above the discharge outlet 16 of the cup 13 for the purposeof forming tlre,issuing glass into suspended mold-charges. The mechanismfor reciprocating this plunger forms no part of my present invention,and has therefore been omitted from the accompanying` drawing.

Air for cooling the glass as it approaches thedischarge outlet may bedelivered into the vchamber 6 by means of pipes 2O pro]ecting intoopposite sides of the chamber 6 through openings'21. The baffle block 7may be provided with a cooling chamber 22, which may be open to the airat from a pipe 24 may be blown into the chamber 22 for cooling thebaffle block. lf desired, the pipes 20 and24, or either of them, may bemade to discharge heating flames instead of cooling air, A fuel outletpipe is shown at 25 for projecting flame upon the flowing glass It willthus be seen that a variety of means are provided for cl1anging-thetemperature of the flowing All" asv

glass, and that the temperature of the glass may thus be controlledwithin wide'limits.

The baille or dividing block 7 may be built into the feeder as anintegral part of the refractory bottom 3,01-, if preferred, thebafflemay be made separate from the other parts ofthe feeder and may beset removably in the glass channel. struction permits the baliie to bereadily rcplaced in case it should be worn away faster than the .otherportions of the feeder which are subject to erosion by the flowinglglass.

Fig. 3 shows a construction which is generally similar to that-of Figs.1 and 2. In

The vlatter con- Fig. 3, however, the top of the'. dividing i block orisland 30 is considerably lower than that of the dividing block-7 ofFigs. 1 and 2. Also, Fig. 'shows a fuel inlet 31 above the dividingblock 30`for directing flame forwardly around the vertical plunger 32.and against the front wall 33 which is immediately beyond the well orcup 34. A Vdischarge outlet 85 is formed in the well 34 in line with theaxis of the plunger 22. In this construction no balile `1s requiredbeyond the well 34, the wall 33 being itself lso formed as to preventaccumulation of glass in front of the well.

4 The construction of Fig. 3, wherein the dividing block is relativelylow, provides thus makes it possible to apply more heat to the surfaceof the flowing glass. Also, it

will be noted that the flamesfrom the fuel inlet 3l are directed againstthe front wall 33 and are .deflected upon, or their heat is reflectedinto lContact with, the flowing glass. This heats the. upper portion ,ofthe flowing glass and tends to equalize its temperature, especially whenthe glass is at a high level. This .heating action is particularlyeffective upon the glass at the front of the feeder and is reliedupon,to equalize the temperature of the glass which maygrise above thelevel offthe dividing block 30 when the feeder is flooded or when, forany reason, it is desired to keep a highy head of glass above thedischarge loutlet 35.-4 The lowerstrata of the glass are equalized intemperature by the dividing Iblock,'as described in connectionwith'FigsQl and 2.

At lower glass levels kthe flames have less equalizing effect than whenthe glass is above the dividing block, but under these circumstances a.smaller body of glass is present and the action of the dividing blockis sufficient to equalize the temperature of the glass by bringing theglass to opposite sides ofthe discharge outlet described above.

which the glass flows are so proportioned that the cross section of theglass decreases progressively from the original stream `en tering-thefeeder'tojthe glass outlet. This insures that the glass is kept movingat all oints within the feeder at a 4velocity which 1s neversubstantially' checkedl or decreased, with the result that the glass isprevented from accumulating or clogging.

Itwill also be noted that the lower end of they plunger nearly fills thewell above 'the discharge outlet, so that there is never glass, producedby bringing lthe glass into the well in separate streams, Iis carriedinto Athe issuing glassiand into the gobs which are formed below theoutlet.

u not be obtained if the separated streams of block or baffle hereinshown maybe given.

any desired shape, and while the configuration shown in the drawing hasbeen found effective in actual practice, I do not wish t0 in the mannerThis result would be restricted to the details of form or locationherein specifically shown. Neither do I wish to be restricted to the useof thespecific plunger mechanism shown in the accompanying drawing norto the precise details of construction herein'selected for illustratingthe forehearthan'd its attachments. It will be understood that myinvention includes broadly the delivery of molten glass to a discharge-outlet in a plu`` rality of streams. without regard to the precisenumber ory arrangement of such streams, or to the mechanism by whichsuch streams of glass'are produced. It will also be understood that thesystem herein shown of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: f l. The method of feeding molteny glass thatcomprises establishing a flowing stream of glass, dividing said stream,and delivering the divisions of said stream downwardly through a feedoutlet.

2.1The method of feeding molten glass that comprises establishing aflowing stream of glass` dividing said stream into two substanti-allyequal divisions, and delivering may be otherwise modified within thescope said divisions to a downwardly opening feed outlet from yoppositesides o`f said outlet.

' 3. The method of producing mold-charges of molten glass havingsymmetrical temperature, that comprises delivering molten It will benoted that the channels through glass to a downwardly opening feedoutlet in ,a plurality of streams having substandirections, anddischarging the combined streams from the said outlet in a succession ofmold charges.

4. The method of producing mold-charges of molten glass having`symmetrical temperature, that comprises delivering molten glass toopposite sides of a ,downwardly opening'` discharge outlet in vtwostreams having substantially similar temperature characteristics, anddischargimg the combined streams through the said outlet in a successionof mold charges.

5. Glass-feeding apparatus comprising a receptacle having a downwardlyopening feed outlet, and means for delivering molten glass to the saidoutlet in a plurality of streams approaching said outlet from differen'tdirection.

6. Glass-feeding yapparatus comprising a receptacle having a downwardlyopening feed outlet, and means for delivering molten glass to the saidoutlet in two streams approaching said outlet from opposite sidesthereof.

7. The method of producing mold charges of molten glass that comprises'causing a stream of glass to flow toward 'a downwardly opening feedoutlet, dividing said stream into two smaller streams, each of which islarger than the area of said outlet,v

and bringing said streams to said outlet from opposite sides thereof.

8. Glass-feeding apparatus comprising a receptacle having a dischargeoutlet, means for causing a stream of molten glass to flow toward saidoutlet, a dividing member or island interposed in the path of saidstream, and means 'for projecting Iiame upon the surface of the glass inthe vicinity of said' dividing member. I

9. Glass-feedmg apparatus comprlsmg a receptacle having adischargeoutlet, and

having afront wall beyond said outlet,`

,means for causing a stream of molten glass to flow toward said outlet`a dividing member or island interposed in the path of said stream, andmeans above said dividing mem ber for projecting flame forwardly anddownwardly against said front wall.

10. Glass-feeding apparatus comprising a receptacle having an outlet,means for discharging molten glass from saidoutlet to form a successionof freely-hanging mold charges, andmeans for supplying a plurality ofstreams of molten glass lto said outlet.

11. Glass-feeding apparatus'comprising a receptacle having an outlet,means for discharging molten glass from said outlet in a succession offreely-hanging mold charges, and means for supplying molten glass tosaid outlet from opposite sides thereof.

12.' Glass-feeding apparatus comprising a receptacle having a dischargeoutlet, a channel for conducting glass to said outlet, and meansdisposed in said channel for dividing the flowing glass into a pluralityof streams means for causing a stream of molten glass to How toward saiddischarge outlet and a dividing member for dividing said'stream of glassinto two sections approaching said discharge putlet and plunger vfromopposite sides thereof.

15. Glass-feeding apparatus comprising a forehearth, a cu-p orwellhaving an opening which formsa discharge outlet from said` forehearth, avertical plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation above said opening,

and a dividing member disposed adjacent to said c'up for dividing theglass lowin in the said forehearth into two streams andg for and avertica .to enter said well.

a baille member adjacent to said cup on the side of said cup opposite tosaid dividing member, said baffle member serving to prevent glass fromaccumulating beyondsaid cup.

17. Apparatus for feeding molten glass comprising a tank forehearthhaving an enclosed outer end, a well formed in the bottom of saidforehearth and at the outer end thereof, with no substantial spacebetween said closed outer end and said well, a down# wardly openingdischarge outlet formed-in the bottom of' said well, a dividing block orisland disposed in'l said forehearth for dividing the glass owing towardsaid well,

y Aly reciprocable plunger member disposed above said outletand adapted18. Apparatus for feed-ing molten glass comprising a receptacle having adischarge outlet, a channel for conducting a stream of glass toward saidoutlet and an island member disposed in said channelfor dividing saidstream on its way to said outlet.

19. In glass feeding apparatus the combination of a glass conductingchannel comprising a vertical front wall, said channel being formed witha. discharge well or passageway `exitendingi downward, a reci rocatingplunger projecting downward into said channel to control the flow ofglass therefrom, and a baille projecting upward from the floor of thechannel, said baille being immediately behind the plunger and extendinglaterally beyond the side surfaces of the plunger in position to deflectthe flowing glassto opposite sides of the plunger.

20. The combination of a glass conducting channel provided with adownwardly openingvd-ischarge passage and a plunger 'projecting downwardinto said passage, and a bafile or raised portion directly behind theplunger, the width of the baille being equal lto or greater than thediameter of the discharge opening.

21. The combination of a glass conducting channel provided with adownwardly opening discharge passage, and a plunger projecting downwardinto said passage, channel .being provided with a baffle 0r raisedportion directly behind the plunger', said bathe formed with rearwardlyconver ing side walls, and the front'wall of' tho g .no

bnme extending lnternuy beyond the sides of the plunger. l

22. The combination` of a rglass conducting channel provided with adownwardly 5 opening discharge passage, and a plunger pro'ectmg downwardinto said passa -sai channel being provided with a ba 'e' or raisedportion. directly behind the plunger, said baille being inclineddownwardly and` forwardly, andextending laterally beyond the' sides ofthe plunger to deflect Aand directvthe flow of glass to oppositesides ofthe said plunger.

In testimonyv whereof I the said GEORGE- E. HOWARD have hereunto setV mhand.

lGEORGE E. OWARD.

